Utah man who allegedly traded gunfire with deputies ordered to stand trial

A man who exchanged gunfire with Iron County sheriff's deputies last December was ordered Wednesday to stand trial.

Grant Louise Biedermann Jr., 41, was charged in 5th District Court with two counts of first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder, two counts of third-degree felony assault by a prisoner and one count of class B misdemeanor carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

On Wednesday, following a preliminary hearing, Judge John Walton ordered Biedermann to stand trial on all charges except one of the assault-by-a-prisoner counts, which was dismissed.

Biedermann is to appear in court for arraignment on Aug. 26.

He is accused of engaging in a gunbattle on Dec. 13 with an officer at his home in Kannarraville.

According to a probable cause statement, officers were called to the area to handle a "suicidal subject." They asked the man to come outside, but when Biedermann exited, he was carrying a rifle. Officers ordered Biedermann several times to drop the weapon, but he allegedly raised his weapon toward the officers and opened fire, according to court documents.

One officer was struck, while the other officer returned fire. A bullet grazed Biedermann's head, and he was hospitalized before being booked into the Iron CountyJail.

The injured deputy was struck in the hip, and suffered only minor injuries.

jmiller@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jm_miller